Search Climate Insights Directory

This guide, developed by Forest Trends and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provides a comprehensive framework for CITES Management Authorities (MAs) to establish Legal Acquisition Findings (LAFs). It outlines the process for verifying that specimens of species listed in CITES Appendices were acquired in accordance with national laws, emphasizing the importance of a traceable Chain of Custody (CoC) from the point of origin to the exporter.

This case study by GreenCape examines resilience-led economic interventions implemented in 2020 to support the green business community in Cape Town and the broader South African economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategy follows a 'survive, adapt and thrive' framework, focusing on supporting small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) through international collaborations, innovative funding, and policy alignment to ensure a green recovery.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the intersection of circular economy solutions and international trade policies to support global decarbonization. It argues that transitioning from primary to secondary materials and extending product lifespans are essential for meeting Paris Agreement goals, as resource extraction and processing account for half of global greenhouse gas emissions. The authors advocate for the removal of trade barriers to circular goods and services and the use of bilateral and regional trade agreements to establish standards for low-carbon circularity.

This policy brief by Transforma argues for a planned, inclusive phase-out of coal mining in Colombia using a 'just transition' framework. It highlights the vulnerability of the national and regional economies to declining global coal demand and recommends diversifying the economy toward low-carbon assets, addressing historical socio-environmental liabilities, and expanding social protections beyond simple employment metrics to include regional development and climate justice.

This analysis evaluates the outcomes of the virtual Climate Ambition Summit held in December 2020, which served as a substitute for the postponed Glasgow Climate Change Conference. While the summit resulted in 45 announcements of new or updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the author argues that these commitments often lack the urgency required by climate science and are frequently conditional on financial support for developing nations.

A statement from World Resources Institute President & CEO Andrew Steer regarding the Climate Ambition Summit, noting progress in net-zero commitments from various nations and non-state actors while criticizing the lack of bold 2030 emission targets and insufficient financial support for developing countries.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines four critical technical and political areas that UN negotiators must resolve by COP26 in November 2021. It reviews the outcomes of the 2020 Climate Dialogues and highlights significant gaps in the Paris Agreement rulebook, climate finance commitments, and mechanisms for loss and damage and adaptation.

This policy brief analyzes the history of global climate governance, highlighting the transition from the Kyoto Protocol's rigid mandates for developed nations to the Paris Agreement's universal, bottom-up approach. It emphasizes that while the Paris Agreement achieved universality by evolving the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, current national pledges remain insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

The 2020 report on the WHO-Civil Society Working Group to Advance Action on Climate and Health outlines the group's efforts to integrate health priorities into climate action and COVID-19 recovery. Key achievements include mobilizing health professionals for a 'healthy recovery' and coordinating with the UNFCCC Race to Zero Dialogues to prioritize health at COP26.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) evaluates the alignment of global power sector investment with the Paris Agreement goals for 2018. Using a new science-based methodology, CPI finds that significant investment continues to flow into fossil fuel power, putting the world on a temperature trajectory exceeding 3.2°C. The document highlights a critical gap in asset-level transaction data and provides recommendations for public and private actors to halt carbon-intensive investments and accelerate the decommissioning of fossil fuel plants.

This policy brief examines the restart of agriculture negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in September 2020 under Chair Gloria Abraham Peralta. It analyzes the challenges of achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and shifting global trade dynamics, while outlining seven key negotiating areas and potential pathways for progress.

Ember argues that the UK should implement a carbon tax on January 1st, as a link between the EU carbon market and the UK is no longer possible following the Brexit transition period.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines three strategic steps for the Biden administration to re-establish the United States as a global leader in climate action following the 2020 presidential election. It emphasizes the need for a robust national climate commitment, increased financial support for developing nations, and the integration of climate change into core foreign policy to rebuild international trust and align with global trends toward net-zero emissions.

This methodology note describes the framework used by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and its partners to track and score government support for fossil fuels across G20 countries between 2014 and 2020.

This policy brief, authored by a coalition of 22 non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, argues that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the critical link between ecosystem health and human health. It provides a roadmap for policymakers to integrate nature-based solutions into pandemic response and economic recovery to prevent future zoonotic spillovers and achieve a nature-positive economy.

This policy brief argues that the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical link between ecosystem health and human health. It recommends that governments prevent future zoonotic pandemics by stopping the degradation of natural habitats, reforming livestock production, and strictly regulating the wildlife trade. Furthermore, it urges a "nature-positive" economic recovery that protects existing conservation investments, reallocates harmful agricultural subsidies, and integrates nature-based solutions into stimulus packages to create sustainable jobs and long-term economic resilience.

This policy brief, authored by a coalition of 21 non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations, argues that the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the critical link between ecosystem health and human health. It provides a roadmap for policymakers to integrate nature-based solutions into crisis management and economic recovery to prevent future zoonotic pandemics and ensure a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.

This policy brief from the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the precautionary principle, a guide in international environmental law that advocates for taking protective action even in the absence of full scientific certainty to avoid serious or irreversible damage.

This briefing explores the precautionary principle as a guide for decision-makers to protect the environment, public health, and security in the face of scientific uncertainty. It traces the principle's evolution from national laws in Sweden to its integration into major international treaties and the law of the European Union, while discussing the ongoing tension between environmental safeguarding and economic development.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines how regional integration, specifically through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and a strategic partnership with the European Union can accelerate the transition to green energy in Africa. It identifies significant energy deficits and systemic constraints—including finance, technical capacity, and domestic policy—that hinder progress, arguing that a regional approach can overcome the limitations faced by individual nation-states.